Cabinet



H. DERMAN Sept. 12, "1939.

CABINET Filed: Nov. 8, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN\VENTO R HARRY DERMAN S ATTORNEY.

Sept. 12, 1939. i' M 2,172,956

OABiNET 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i iled Nov. 8, 1957 INVENTOR /'/A RRYDE/F'MAN- BY ATTOREY Patented Sept. 12, 1939 2,172,956

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,172,956 I CABINET v Harry Del-man, Laurelton, Long Island, N. Y. Application November 8, 1937, Serial No. 173,356

6 Claims. (Cl. 312-190) This invention relates to cabinets and similar Fig. is a partial section on the line 5-5 of containers, and principally to containers of this Fig. 3. kind of the knock-down or collapsible type; and Fig. 6 is a partial section on the line 66 of the object .of the invention is to provide a cabinet Fig. 1..

5 or container of this class with a sliding door for Fig. 7 is a front view of a modified form of 5 controlling the opening giving access to the incabinet which I employ. terior of the cabinet or container, and more Fig. 8 is a partial section on the line B8 of particularly in the provision of means for com- Fig. 7, on an enlarged scale; and, pactly rolling a flexible corrugated sheet forming Fig. 9' is a partial section on the line 99 of 10 said door closure upon a spring roller disposed Fig.7. 10 in such position within the cabinet or container In Fig. 1 of the drawings I have shown for 'as to not interfere with or obstruct the use the purpose of illustrating one, use of my inventhereof; and still further in a manner which is tion, a cabinet consisting of collapsibly related substantially invisible when the closure of the parts consisting of a front frame part l0, formcabinet or container is in open position; a furing the front of the cabinet and the frame of a 15 ther object being to providea winding unitcondoor opening H, the frame I0 consisting of a top sisting of two spring rollers around one of which rail l2, a bottom rail l3 and side rails l4. A front. the flexible closure is-adapted to be rolledgand closure portion or wall 15 of single-faced corruthe other of which is adapted to roll a supporting gated board is arranged at the bottom 'of the or operating tape or strand serving as the pricabinet and includes a top rail part "S which 20 mary means for moving the door from a closed to forms the bottom wall of the door opening ll an open position; whereas the first named roller The part I! of the cabinet consists of foldably functions primarily to wind the flexible material related wall members, namely aback wall 18 and 0f the Closure in e p ati of oving the .two side walls 19, which are foldable with respect same into open position; a still further object to the back wall Hi to form a flat compact packbeing to provide a closure unit for cabinets of age. These walls are preferably composed of the class described, comprising a frame forming cardboard, corrugated board or t e like; but m the front door frame of the cabinet wherein the b composed of any other material dependmg sliding door and associated parts constitute a upon the structure desired in the resulting cabiunit part of said frame; a further object being net. In this connection,. it will be understood to providebrackets for supporting the rollers of that the wall parts I 8, l9 are hingedly united the device with means on said brackets engaging at the intersecting comers thereof to provide for side walls of the resulting-cabinet to aid in supthe collapsing of said walls as will be apparent. DOrting and reinforcing said brackets in the cabi- The cabinet also consists of two substantially net; and with these and other objects in view, the similartop and bottom walls 20, 20a; and the 35 invention consists in a cabinet of the class and only difference between these walls is the inclufor the purpose specified which is simple in consion of a garment hanger 2| in the top wall 20. struction, efiicient in use, and which is con- Otherwise these walls consist of a rectangular structed as hereinafter described and claimed. sheet 22 of cardboard, corrugated board or the The invention is fully disclosed in the followlike, having depending flanges 23 at the sides and 40 8" Specification, which the ac p back thereof reinforced by strips 24 to which the q drawings form ap h h the'separate Darts brackets 25 are secured; the brackets serving of my improvement are designated by suitable as supports for the cross-rod 21a of the hangerreference characters in each of the Views, and 2|. It will be noted that the brackets 25 are offin which: set inwardly 'so as to extend into the compart- '45 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet made ment of the cabinet inwardly of the side walls according to my invention, showing the top .wall 19; the upper edges of said wall being recessed in removed position with parts of the construcas seen at l9a to receive the attached portions of tion broken away and in section. the brackets 25. It is also preferred that the Fig. 2 is a section on the line *2-'-2 of Fig. 1. side rails 24 be recessed as seen at 2411 to receive .50 .Fig. 3 is a partial section on the 1ine'3-4 of hook-shaped flanges 25 on roller supporting Fig. 1, showing the top wall in position. brackets 21; the flanges 26 engaging upper edges Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the upper end of the side. walls I 9 to aid in reinforcing the portion'of a frame unit constituting one part of mounting of said brackets as will be apparent. It the complete cabinet. is also preferred that the upper edges of the walls 55 19 be recessedas indicated at "b to receive the hook-shaped flanges 26.

The brackets 21' are substantially of identical construction with the exception that one of the brackets will be provided with angular apertures 28, 29, for supportingthe usual angular shanks at one end of conventional spring rollers 30, 3|, respectively; that is to say, rollers similar to those commonly employed in operating window shades and well known in the art. For this reason no specific illustration of the rollers is herein shown.

The brackets are reinforced by outwardly extending peripheral flanges 32 and are further reinforced by beaded portions 33 to give strength and rigidity to said brackets, the flat surfaces of the brackets being disposed adjacent the ends of the rollers 30, 3! so as to provide free movement of a flexible door or closure member 34 onto said rollers-and to guide side edges of said door onto the rollers as will be apparent. The side edges of the door 34, which is composed of a single-faced corrugated sheet; that is to say, a sheet having a smooth inner surface 34a and a corrugated outer surface 34b as will be noted in a consideration of Fig. 3 'of the drawings; operate in grooves Ha on the inner adjacent surface of the side rails 14. These grooves open into the cabinet adjacent the top rail [2 as seen at b in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The outer peripheral flanges 32a of the brackets are enlarged as seen at 35'by removing portions of the plate of said brackets, and screws or similar devices 36 are passed through the enlarged portions of the flanges 32a in securing the brackets to the side rails l4 as clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. Theh'ook-shaped flanges 26 constitute extensions of the upper peripheral flanges 32b of the brackets as will clearly appear upon a considerationof Fig. 4 of the drawings.

The roller 30 is preferably arranged adjacent the passages Nb, and this roller acts as.a guide for the door 34 in the operation of winding the same upon the roller 3|. The roller 30 is so arranged as to exert a straight upward pull on the door or closure; whereas the roller 3| winds or rolls the door thereon; and the tension of these rollers will be such as to perform their respective functions. The spring of the roller 3| should be stronger than that of the roller 33 but not necessarily placed under a greater tension.

A tape or strap 30a is secured to the roller 33 and the free end thereof is coupled with a bottom rail 31, attached to the lower edge of the door as seen at 301); the attached end 301) being preferably flared to clear a spring catch 33 engaging the upper surface of the rail 31 to support the door in closedposition against the tension of the roller 30 as well as the roller 3|. The spring catch 38 is secured to the inner surface of the rail It as seen at 33. The catch is so designed as to automatically snap into position to engage the rail 31in the operation of moving the door into closed position. This catch includes an outwardly projecting release pin 40 which projects through the front surface of the rail I3 and provides means for releasinglthe catch 33 to permit the door 34 to move into open position.

The rail I8 is provided with an upwardly pro jecting tongue [3a adapted to fit in a corresponding groove 31a in the rail 31 to form a seal and closure between adjacent surfaces of said. rails to provide dustproof characteristics to the resulting cabinet. A finger piece groove 31b is also provided on the outer surface of the rail 31- to facilitate the movement of the door into a closed position.

When the door 34 is released by the spring catch 38, the door will move into its uppermost position primarily by the action of the roller 30 through the tape or strap 30a connected with the bottomrail 31 of the door. The upward movemen of the door or the rail 31 thereof is checked by the engagement of said rail with that part of the tape which is wound upon the roller 30; the latter acting as a cushion in checking this upward movement. In this operation, the roller 3| will provide for thewinding of the flexible door in its upward movement. It will appear that byarranging the brackets and rollers in the position indicated that this entire mechanism will be substantially concealed when the door is in raised position; itbeing apparent that the rail 31 will stop at a position substantially adjacent the lowermost edges-of the brackets 21.

In the packing and shipment of the cabinet, it is preferred that the frame 10 will have the brackets, rollers and door assembled thereon: and the folded back and side walls l3, l9, will be arranged upon the rear surface of the frame l below the brackets, as will also the top and bottom walls 20, 200. In assembling the cabinet, it will be understood that the forward edges of the side walls 19 will be placed in grooves He provided on the inner surfaces of the rails l4, and the front edges of the top and bottom walls 20, 20a, or the sheets 22 thereof, will rest in grooves formed in the top and bottom rails I2 and I3 in the manner illustrated at H11 in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Tacks or nails will be employed in securing the side walls and top and bottom walls in position and also in securing the flanges 23 of the top and bottom walls to the upper and lower edges of the back and side walls I8 and H.

In Figs. '7 to 9 inclusive, I have shown a slight modification which is adaptable for use primarily in connection with cabinets of a wider construction. In'Fig. 7 of the drawings, I have shown diagrammatically at 4| such a cabinet which differentiates from the cabinet shown in the other figures primarily in the provision of a central rail 42 in the front frame 43 of the cabinet. This frame is'otherwise the same in construction as the frame II; the center rail 42 having grooves 44 on opposite sides thereof for receiving adjacent edges of two similar door members 45, 43a; the other side edges of said door members engaging the side rails of the frame 43 as with the structure shown in saidfirst named figures.

With this construction, it will be apparent that two independent pairs of rollers may be provided. However, it is preferred to use single rollers 43 and 41; mounted in brackets 2111', similar to the brackets 21. A double flange wheel or spool 43 is mounted centrally of the roller 41 so as to keep the adjacent edges of the flexible doors 45, 43a, in spaced relation to each other in the operation ofwinding the same upon the roller 41. Independent straps or tapes 4! will be employed on the roller 43 and coupled with the bottom rails 50, 50a, of the doors 4!, 45a.

I also employ a cross-strap or coupling member SI for joining the bottom railsv 33, 54a, of the doors 4!, 45a, across the back of the central rail 42 so that both doors 4!, 45a, will operate in unison. The connecting strap or coupling II will provide meansfor engaging a spring catch 32, similar to the catch 38, which may be released by a pin 53, similar to the pin 40.

The construction shown in Figs. 7 to 9 inclusive,

will provide a stronger front wall structure for the cabinet, and will provide greater rigidity to emcient door operation.

the door or closure employed.

It will be apparent that the doors 34 and 45, "a, may be operated from a single spring roller instead of the dual spring roller construction employed, in which event, the rollers 30', 46, respectively, would not include the operating tapes but would simply act as guide rollers over which the doors would be free to pass. However, in this event, the tension of the single spring roller employed would have to be sufficient to perform the two distinct functions; namely, operation of the door, and secondly, winding of. the door upon the roller. I flnd however, that the use of the two spring rollers, each performing its independent function, will provide a smoother and more The use of a single spring roller as stated would save somewhat in the cost of constructing the cabinet and may be used in certain types of cabinets.

The invention as herein disclosed illustrates a simple and collapsible form of construction for carrying my invention into effect. However, it

will be apparent that my invention is also applicable to cabinets of more expensive and of different types and construction.

It will be understood that my invention is not limited to any particular arrangement of the rollers in the cabinet so long as one spring roller will operate to move the door in one direction in controlling the door opening of the cabinet and the other roller will operate to wind the flexible door into a small compact roll, preferably arranged adjacent the front open end of the cabinet. 'It will also appear that in using conventional spring rollers, the usual pawls need not necessarily be employed for holding the rollers against rotation in view of the fact that the door in general use requires only one movement and the spring catch devices, '38, 52, will take the place of such usual pawls.

It will also appear that various types of catch devices and releasing means therefor may be employed; these devices being arranged in the cabinet to be consistent with the manner of arranging the spring roller or rollers inthe cabinet in imparting movement to thedoor in one direction. I have also found it desirable to preroll the strip of flexible material, for example the single-faced corrugated board, so as to facilitate easy rolling operation of the door upon the receiving roller. Y

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A knock-down cabinet consisting of back, side, and end walls and a front wall unit detachable with the side and end walls of the cabinet, said unit comprising a frame having top,

bottom and side rails forming a large door open ing in said frame, inner opposed surfaces-of the side rails having longitudinal grooves throughout the length thereof, a flexible door slidably engaging the grooved side rails and forming a closure for said door opening, means secured to named roller and the door opening in the frame, the side rails having passages opening into the grooves and through the inner surfaces of the rails adjacent the last mentioned roller to guide the flexible door into and out of the grooves of said rails, the free end of the flexible door having a reinforcing strip slidably engaging the grooved side rails, and means engaging said strip tohold the door in closed position against the action of. said spring roller.

2. A knock-down cabinet consisting of. back, side, and end walls and a'front wall unit detachable with the side and end walls of the cabinet, said unit comprising a frame having top, bottom and side rails forming a large door opening in said frame, inner opposedsurfaces of the side rails having longitudinal grooves throughout the length thereof, a flexible door slidably engaging the grooved side rails and forming a closure for said door opening, means secured to the innor surface of the frame adjacent one end thereof and at the side rails of the frame for supporting two rollers within the cabinet adjacent one end of the door opening in said frame, one of said rollers being of the spring type and having one end of the flexible door coupled therewith to be wound on said roller in the movement of the door from a closed to an open position, the other roller'being arranged adjacent the first named roller and the door opening in the frame, the side rails having passages opening into the grooves and through the inner surfaces of the rails adjacent the last mentioned roller to guide the flexible door into and out of the grooves of said rails, the free end of the flexible door having a reinforcing strip slidably engaging the grooved side rails, means engaging said strip to hold the door in closed position against the action of said spring roller, said first named means comprising sheet metal brackets extending into the cabinet and engaging inner surfaces of the side walls thereof, and another closure for said .door opening slidably engaging the rails of said flrst named flexible door and arrangedin the end of the frame opposed to the end supporting said rollers.

3. A knock-down cabinet consisting of back, side, and end walls and a front wall unit detachable with the side and end walls of the cabinet, said unit comprising a frame having a large door opening bounded on opposed sides' with grooved edges, a flexible door slidably engaging the grooved edges of the front wall and forming a closure for said door opening, means forming part of said unit for supporting two rollers within the cabinet adjacent one end of the door opening in said frame, one of said rollers being of the spring type and having one end of the flexible door coupled therewith to be wound on said roller in the movement of the door from a closed to an open position, the'other roller being arranged adjacent the first named roller and the door opening in the frame to guide the flexible door into and out of said grooved edges of said door opening, means engaging the door to hold the same in closed position against the action of said spring roller, the free outer end of the door having a reinforcing strip, a flexible strap coupled the door and attached to the second namedroller,

and means on the strip of said door and on the part of the 'frame engaged by' said strip when the door is in closed position for forming a tongue and groove connection between the door and said part of the frame.

with said strip J and extending longitudinally of 4. A knock-down cabinet consisting of back, side, and end walls and a front wall unit detachable with the side and end walls of the cabinet, said unit comprising a frame having a large door opening bounded on opposed sides with grooved edges, a flexible door slidably engaging the grooved edges of the front wall and forming ,a closure for said door opening, means forming part of said unit for supporting two rollers within the cabinet adjacent one end of the door opening in said frame, one of said rollers being of the spring type and having one end of the flexible door coupled therewith to be wound on said roller in the movement of the door from a closed to an open position, the other roller being arranged adjacent the first named roller and the door opening in the frame to guide the flexible door into and out of said grooved edges of said door opening, means engaging the door to hold the same in closed position against the action of said spring roller, said flexible door being divided centrally and longitudinally into two door parts, and adjacent edges of said door parts operating in a double-grooved strip arranged in said frame intermediate adjacent edges of said door parts.

5. In a knock-down container of theclass described, a closure unit for the open front of the container, said unit comprising an oblong rectangular frame having grooved side rails, a double-grooved rail intermediate the side rails dividing the frame into two door openings, flexible door members controlling said openings, the side edges of said members slidably engaging the grooved rails of said frame in the movement of said members to open and close the door openings, rollers supported on and constituting part of said unit and arranged adjacent one end of the door openings, at least one of said rollers constituting a spring roller for moving the door members in one direction in the door openings,

said door members-being manually movable in .a flexible door member forcontrolling said door opening, said door member slidably engaging grooved side edges of the door opening, a pair of spring rollers mounted within the cabinet adjacent one end of the door opening in parallel relation to each other, one of said spring rollers being in close proximity to the longitudinal plane of the door opening, one end of the door being attached to one of said rollers and adapted to be wound thereon in moving the door into open position, the free end of the flexible door having a transverse reinforcing finishing strip, means attached to said strip and extending directly to the other of said spring rollers and wound thereon to aid in moving the door from a closed to an open position, and means for retaining the door in closed position against the action of said spring rollers.

HARRY DERMAN. 

